Meaning & use
on the nose
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Meanings
phraseidiominformal
Exactly right or accurate.
Grammar: Used after a verb: the guess was on the nose.
Patterns
- be on the nose
Your estimate was right on the nose.
The forecast was on the nose, down to the minute.
His description of the town was on the nose.
phraseidiomdisapproving
Too direct and obvious, without any subtlety, especially in writing and film.
Grammar: Critical; often used of dialogue: on-the-nose dialogue.
Patterns
- be a bit on the nose
The line 'I am so lonely' felt too on the nose.
Critics found the symbolism heavy and on the nose.
The song's title was a bit on the nose for a breakup album.
phraseidiominformalAustralian
At exactly the stated time or amount, used in Australian and British English.
Grammar: Informal; used after the time: at eight on the nose.
The train left at nine on the nose.
She arrived at noon on the nose.
He weighed 70 kilos on the nose.
Common combinations
- right on the nose
- His prediction was right on the nose.
- a bit on the nose
- That joke was a bit on the nose.
- on-the-nose dialogue
- The script is full of on-the-nose dialogue.
- too on the nose
- The metaphor felt too on the nose.
- hit it on the nose
- She hit it on the nose with her answer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spot on
- Spot on is a British phrase for exactly correct, while on the nose can also be a criticism.
- exact
- Exact is neutral and formal, while on the nose is casual.
- obvious
- Obvious describes anything easy to see, while on the nose implies the obviousness is unsubtle.
- heavy-handed
- Heavy-handed describes clumsy, forceful treatment, a close match for the criticism sense.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: on the nose or on the money?
on the nose vs on the money
On the money also means exactly right but never carries the 'too obvious' criticism.
Practice
A critic says the film's dialogue is 'on the nose'. This most likely means it is:
Choose one answer.
In criticism, on the nose means unsubtle. It may also mean accurate in other contexts, but a critic's complaint points to the negative sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “on the nose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.